Please tell me I’m not alone in my struggles to get my little barbarians–er, “angels”–into bed on time! Part of the challenge has been the ridiculous schedule we’ve been keeping. We inhale our dinner in record time, keeping one eye on our fork and the other on the ticking clock. Then it’s off to baseball or violin practice or recitals or end-of-school activities {whew!}. By the time we get home and toss the kids in the shower or bathtub there’s barely time for a snack and a story.
YET, the other part of the story is that we have not been consistent with our kids as of late: not with teaching, not with training, and not with our expectations. It’s nearly unforgivable and fully out of balance. I stand before you guilty of familial insanity.
In case you’ve ever doubted that you actually reap what you sow, allow me to affirm its truth. We are sowing craziness and reaping the same at bedtime.
One of our children has found it particularly challenging to obey at bedtime. I’ll spare any embarrassment by forgoing specific mention–however–”mini-me” is driving the struggle bus and we’re fighting like mountain goats in springtime to end the madness.
Aside from all the praying and Bible versing [and screaming and crying]…I made up this little chart and am crossing my fingers that it will motivate the obedience we all wish was innate in our kids.
It’s up to you how you want to reward or punish, but at least it’s a starting place for keeping track of stars and smiley faces [or sad faces and lightning]. Download and use as you wish, courtesy of The Unofficial Homeschooler.
